Administrative Medical Assistant Programs in Arizona
In Arizona medical clinics, private practices, hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities, medical administrative assistants provide important support services on a daily basis. Such assistants often greet patients as they arrive for medical appointments. They may also gather patient insurance information, schedule appointments and compile patient care information.
If you enjoy interacting with people, and you are also detail-oriented, this may be a good career path to seriously consider. It can be fulfilling to help patients in a considerate and professional way while you work alongside dedicated healthcare professionals, like doctors, physicians’ assistants and nurses. Contact the schools below that offer Administrative Medical Assisting programs in Arizona to learn more about your options for study.
Educational Requirements
Most frequently, medical providers will require that prospective job candidates have a certificate from an accredited educational institution. Some employers will want you to be fully certified as well. Others will require the successful completion of an Associate’s Degree for you to be considered for employment as a Medical Assistant in Arizona.
O*Net surveyed medical administrative assistants to determine their educational background. Sixty-five percent said they completed a certificate program, making this one of the most easily entered medical professions in the nation.
Becoming an Administrative Medical Assistant in Arizona
To gain admission into a certificate program, an applicant must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Some schools will also require a passing grade on an English test and a keyboard exam. To be accepted into their Associates Degree programs, schools will often have minimum high school GPA requirements.
Certificate programs will often take from 12-18 months to complete. However, you would have to typically attend full-time for 12 straight months to complete the program in just one year. These programs mainly focus a specific coursework that will prepare you for your career as a medical administrative assistant.
Classes in medical transcription, patient coding, customer service in a healthcare setting, medical office procedures, document production and public health issues are common. Associate’s Degree programs will also include more general classes in English, science and math. Some students will enroll in classes in anatomy and psychology as well.
After the successful completion of your studies, certification is possible through the National Health Careers Association. The association administers the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam. It is possible to become a certified medical administrative assistant by passing the exam. Certification may provide additional employment opportunities and better pay.
Career Outlook for Administrative Medical Assistants in Arizona
Although the 2013 national median wage for medical administrative assistants is $29,600, the median wage in Arizona is higher, at $30,700. The size of the elderly population in Arizona is expected to stimulate continued demand for medical administrative assistants. Many positions will be concentrated in Tucson and the Phoenix metros. However, medical administrative assistants are needed at most medical clinics and healthcare facilities, so positions may be found in both urban and rural parts of Arizona. Nationwide, O*Net has projected a 22 percent increase in the number of medical assisting jobs in this category during the period from 2012 to 2022.
As medical clinics in Arizona continue the transition to electronic health records, medical administrative assistants will be involved in the process at many facilities. The changes brought about by the Affordable Health Care Act may also help to provide additional opportunities to such medical assistants.
From the very start of your career, you’ll work with healthcare professionals in a stimulating and fast-paced setting. Sometimes, it may be possible to advance to supervisory or management positions with the accumulation of experience and continuing education classes. Submit your requests for additional information to schools that offer med assisting programs in Arizona today to get started.
Arizona
Arizona College
Campus Locations in: Glendale: Allied Health
Matching Programs: Health Care Administration
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree
Grand Canyon University – Online
Campus Locations in: Phoenix, AZ
Matching Programs: B.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree